It’s good to be the President of the United States — or, at least, it’s good to be President Andre Curtis (Keith David), the protagonist of Rick and Morty‘s new spin-off. Last month at San Diego Comic-Con, before President Curtis‘ premiere, David announced that the series had already been renewed for a second season, which is currently in production. It’s fantastic news because President Curtis is the best thing to happen to the Rick and Morty universe in years, embracing the original show’s premise by refreshingly parodying sci-fi and pop culture.
What Is ‘President Curtis’ About?
Whereas Rick and Morty focuses on parodying sci-fi concepts with elements like its own multiverse, President Curtis parodies history and real-life events. Case in point: in the series premiere, Curtis and his team discover that the CIA is trying to hide that a genetic superhuman baby was dropped on the moon in the 1960s. The baby is still alive, and the CIA wants to cover up the child’s existence because multiple countries are planning new missions to the moon.
The second episode, “Triangle,” reveals that monsters and creatures from folklore are being kept in a high-tech floating supermax prison conveniently located in the Bermuda Triangle. On top of that, Amelia Earhart (Kristen Schaal) crucially aids President Curtis’ mission to investigate said prison. The famed pilot had previously been discovered by President Franklin Roosevelt and put in charge of “Bermuda Transit.” These hysterical references not only elevate the show’s comedy but also provide President Curtis with an identity that stands apart from Rick and Morty.
‘President Curtis’ Moves Away From ‘Rick and Morty’s Repetitive Family Drama
President Curtis uses a similar playbook as Rick and Morty, through its parody of sci-fi and various pop-cultural references. However, it avoids most of the family drama that has come to dominate the flagship show’s later seasons, instead mixing in more political and historical satire. While Rick and Morty’s family dynamics arguably add an interesting layer of realism to the show’s sometimes bizarre and outlandish storylines, it’s frustrating to watch the characters make the same mistakes over and over. President Curtis marks a fresh start for the franchise, embracing the fun of similar concepts without all the emotional baggage.
Aside from President Curtis himself, most of the cast are brand-new characters, such as Curtis’ new chief of staff, the part-human, part-cyborg Rho Banks (Stephanie Beatriz), and the overly serious half-leprechaun Secret Service agent, Francis O’Doyle (Jim Rash). The series has already hinted at Rho’s harrowing backstory, which involves a traumatic accident as a child that led to her gaining high-tech cybernetic implants. It’s also been teased that she could override her systems, causing her to become wildly chaotic and amoral. By contrast, O’Doyle takes his job guarding the president as seriously as a heart attack, but his complicated relationship with his mother has led him to resent his leprechaun heritage.
Although the main characters of President Curtis are flawed, their foibles only make them more charming and likable. Additionally, the trio’s bonds are only poised to grow as the season progresses, making the series incredibly rewarding to watch overall. With the knowledge that the Rick and Morty spin-off is set to receive at least two seasons, hopefully, it’s only the beginning of more to come for President Curtis on Adult Swim.
